26th May, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Popular Nollywood actor, Uzor Arukwe has described his character in Nigeria’s highest box office grossing film, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ as the most challenging role he has ever played.
Arukwe, who plays Chidoke, an Igbo businessman and money launderer in the film, said the role was challenging because he had to consciously use the Igbo man’s dialect and enunciation of ‘R’s’ and ‘L’s’.
He disclosed this during a recent interactive session with fans on X platform.
A curious fan asked, “[What’s] The most challenging role you have ever played?”
Arukwe replied, “A Tribe Called Judah because I had to consciously replace the L word with the R word, to make it feel natural & believable.”
Quoting his tweet, producer of the record-breaking film, Funke Akindele lauded him for his outstanding performance in the movie.
“And you nailed it. Well done bro. Thank you too,” she wrote.
A Tribe Called Judah follows five brothers: Jide Kene Achufusi as Emeka Judah, Timini Egbuson as Pere Judah, Uzee Usman as Adamu Judah, Tobi Makinde as Shina Judah, and Olumide Oworu as Ejiro Judah, who must come together to rob a company to save their mother, played by Akindele as Jedidah Judah.
Released on December 15, 2023, the film sets a new record to become the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time and the first Nollywood title to hit a billion naira at the box office.
All these are achieved just three weeks after its release, making it the fastest Nollywood movie to achieve this feat.
After 11 weeks, according to data released by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the film grossed only ₦14,745 in its final weekend between February 23 and February 25, screening in just two locations.
A Tribe Called Judah’s final gross, before falling out of the weekly top 20 list, was recorded as ₦1,404,207,541, with 374,552 ticket admissions.